Wisdom's Journey: Continental Mysticism and Popular Devotion in England, 1350-1650

Steven Rozenski's book "Wisdoms Journey" explores the forms and strategies of late medieval translation, early modern engagement with Continental medieval devotion, and the latters literary afterlives in English-speaking communities. It examines the works of Henry Suso, Catherine of Siena, and Thomas à Kempis, and the common devotional culture manifested in the work of Richard Rolle. The book reshapes our understanding of English devotional and mystical literature from the 1400s to the 1600s, illuminating its wider European context before and after the Reformations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 344 pages
Publication date: 22 July 2022
Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press

Steven Rozenski's book, Wisdoms Journey, delves into the rich tapestry of late medieval devotional texts, particularly those influenced by continental and German traditions. While Martin Luther's translation of the Bible into German has often been hailed as the defining spirit of the Protestant Reformation, Rozenski reveals that a host of devotional and mystical writings translated into the vernacular had a profound impact on lay religious practices and experiences well into the seventeenth century.

In his comprehensive study, Rozenski explores English translations and adaptations of the works of Henry Suso, Catherine of Siena, and Thomas à Kempis, as well as the common devotional culture manifested in the work of Richard Rolle. Through meticulous research, he uncovers the forms and strategies of late medieval translation, early modern engagement with Continental medieval devotion, and the literary afterlives of these works in English-speaking communities.

Suso's Rhineland mysticism, for instance, experienced initial widespread influence, translation, and adaptation, followed by a gradual decline. Catherine of Siena's Italian spirituality, on the other hand, saw continued use and retranslation in post-Reformation recusant communities, paralleled by vehement denunciation by English Protestants. Thomas à Kempis' Imitation of Christ, on the other hand, attained a remarkably consistent expansion of popularity, translation, and acceptance among both Catholic and Protestant readers well into the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Wisdoms Journey traces this path, reshaping our understanding of English devotional and mystical literature from the 1400s to the 1600s. It illuminates its wider European context before and after the Reformations of the sixteenth century, shedding light on the complex interplay of religious, cultural, and intellectual forces that shaped this period. Written primarily for scholars and students of religious history, literature, and culture, this book offers a valuable contribution to our understanding of the late medieval and early modern world.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780268202767